So ... how about that snow?

As I waited for the bus today I was provided with ample opportunity to once again tune into the lives of those around me. I was in search for an interesting conversation but all I found was mindless chatter. As the bus pulled into Coxwell station I pushed through the crowd to sit in my usual seat in the back of the bus by the window, if you can call it that, it’s more like a piece of glass coated in mud and variations of dirt and snow-like materials. Back to the assignment, with a coffee in one hand and purse in the other pretending to read a newspaper while listening in would not work so I watched my shoes, (that of which need a good cleaning) and began my second venture into the world eavesdrop.

I witnessed the interaction from start to finish, two early-thirty-something women waiting for the same bus. It started off with the ever so awkward “Hey! (I don’t know you but you work on the same floor as me and I hear about your life and all your shenanigans on a daily basis) How are you?” Let the small talk begin. As I sat down I was rather disappointed when the two women sat in front of me, I was hoping to find a conversation full of stimulating material and something told me that these were not the people to provide. They sat down and started in on what else, the weather. The two women discussed the benefits of hoods. No not the word that is often referred to as a ghetto or slum no they were talking about the piece of fabric that is attached to a coat or garment to protect your head. I kid you not the women directly in front of me described what she feels while wearing one as and I quote “ I feel Invisible, if there is a hood on my jacket I am prepared for every and anything.” Really? At this point you are wondering why I would choose this exchange out of the possibilities.

It is because I utterly hate small talk. I don’t want to become a critic of all things and someone who comes off as a cynic. This is not my intention, I just happened to blog on two conversations in a row that irritate me. I assure you the next one will not be so negative (I hope). I cannot bear small talk, I hate the immense pressure I feel to keep the conversation flowing in order to avoid the awkward silence that will surely follow after you have said all there is to say about the weather patterns in Toronto, its cold and grey out... amazing. Why do we feel the need to fill silence with words that will have no affect on us in the slightest? I personally have pulled the whole ‘listening to my iPod and far too busy to even notice someone’ in order to avoid awkward encounters. When I see the guy who sat three rows behind me in grade seven am I really expected to talk to him for the next ten subway stops? I am sorry but I would rather finish the book I am reading.

However every now and then I do run into someone I know and we do have good conversations. But that is because we chose to skip all the light informal conversation that interests no one. We steered clear of the schedule at school, homework, mutual friends, and the dreaded weather topics and got right to the stuff that matters. What is that stuff you ask? Well for every person it varies, for all I know you could thoroughly enjoy talking about the weather patterns going on outside. If that’s the case I sincerely hope you and I never get stuck on the same bus.